Process and arrangement for treating hydrocarbons, metals, and other bodies



Mar. 3. 1925. 1,528,623

N. G. LINDERBORG A PROCESS AND ARRANGEMENT FOR TREATING HYDROCARBONS, METALS, AND OTHER BODIES Original Filed June 4, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet l Mar. 3, 1925. 1,528,623

N. G. LINDERBORG PROCESS AND ARRANGEMENT FOR TREATING H YDROCARBONS, METALS, AND OTHER BODIES Original Filed June 4, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 D f [l1 7. I! ,r 55/ 55 I T I Patented Mar. 3, 1925.

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NILS GERHARED LINDERBORG; OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PROCESS AND ARRANGEMENT FOR TREATING HYDROCARBONS, METALS, AND OTHER BODIES.

Application filed June 4, 1921, Serial No. 475,124. Renewed April 12, 1924.

To all wk 0m 2'?- 'may concern:

. Be it known that I, NIL-s GnnHAno LIN! mmono. engineer. subject of the King of Sweden, residing at 1990 Seventh Avenue,

city. county. and State of New York, U. S. A.. have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes and Arrangements for Treating Hydrocarbons, Metals. and Other Bodies, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to a process of and an apparatus for producing and treating hydrocarbonsand other bodies.

7 In order that the invention may be clearly understood reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 is an elevation partly in section of an embodiment of the invention and Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of a second embodiment. of the invention.

The embodiment according to Fig. 1 is particularly adapted for producing and treating hydrocarbons. That part of the apparatus. however in which the hydrocarbons produced are treated. may however also be used for treating other materia's.

\Vith reference to Fig. 1 the material to be treated, for instance pit coal, is introduced into the feed funnel 1 and is fed 'by means of the screw conveyor 2 into the top part of the furnace chamber 3. In this chamber there are a plurality of shelves 4, 5 placed below each other. one series 4 of said shelves being attached to the furnace wall while the other series 5 of shelves are attached to the central rotary shaft 6. The material is deliveredby the conveyor 2 to the top shelves, an by means of the brushes 7, which are carr'iedat the ends of arms 15 attached to! theshaft. the material is swept down on to the she'ves below. Hydrocarbon gases are generated during the assage =of the material down through the Qurnace chamber the heat of which successively increases downwards.

' The side walls 8 of the furnace are surrounded by masonry 9, having a series of annular channels 10 extending round the furnace and communicating with each other, so as to form a continuous passage for a suitable heating medium such as the combustion gases fromafire-or furnace.

- The combustion gases from the fire enter at the lower end of the masonry through the pipe 11. flow successively through the annular channels 10 and escape finally through the pipe 12. As the gases in their hottest state thus pass along the lower part of the masonry surrounding the furnace, the f n-mice chamber will. of course. be beated in such a manner that the heat thereof increases downwardly. In order to further increase the heat in the furnace and also in such a manner that the ten'tperature of it increases downwardly there is arranged below the furnace which is open at the bottom, an electric heating arrangement comprising a crucible 13. containing iron or other suitable metal (for instance waste iron) and into which two electrodes enter. 'lhe crucible is considerably smaller than the bottom opening of the furnace chamber and is ar ranged directlv below the shaft 6. so that the material falling from the furnace falls down at the sides ,of the crucible.

The hydromu-bon gases or vapors generated in the furnace are led out from the furnace at several points located at difi'erent heights. In the em txidiment shown there are three outlet pipes 16, 17, 18, each being provided with a cock 19. The gases or vapors from these pipes enter a common can collecting pipe 20. and pass through this pipe into the receiver 21. In this receiver, which is heated in any suitable manner to the desired extent, the gases or vapors may be exposed to the reaction of reducing'or oxidizing materials or may be mixed with other gases or with materials in a finely divided state. 22v indicates the in'et pipe for these materials.

From the receiver 21 the gases flow to a receiver 23, containing means for producing electric waves comprising two electrodes.

connected to an electric high tension circuit, one of said electrodes consisting of al'single bar 24 and the other of a rotary shaft 25 provided with a number of transverse arms 26 having pointed ends or being preferably in the form of wires; When the shaft 25 rotates the ends or points of the arms 26 will continuously move to and from the stationary electrode 24, so that electric waves of a certain shape are produced, to the action of which waves the gas or the vapor in the receiver is exposed.

The means for producing the waves may of course be constructed in any other suitable manner, but preferably both the electrodes are mounted so that they may be rotated as is shown in Fig. 2.

One of the electrodes is suitably provided with a condenser 27 of a suitable capacity. The treatment of the gas or the vapor with electricity may also be effected by leading electrically charged particles through it.

The resulting compounds are withdrawn from the receiver through the outlet pipe 2 'It is evident that the gases brought into the mixing receiver 21 may consist of a mixture of different hydrocarbon gases or vapors.

According to the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the chamber in which the treatment by means of electric high tension current takes place, is arranged within the mixing receiver 21, into which the materials to be treated first enter through the pipe 20. Said chamber is formed of a cylindrical (or otherwise shaped) covering 23 ofan electric non-conductor and of such an outer Y diameter that a space of suitable size is formed between the inner cover 23 and the wall of the receiver 21. through which space the materials pass before entering into the s ace enclosed by the inner cover 23. Sue inner space'is closed at the top but communicates at the bottom with the interior of the receiver 21. The receiver 2L is suitably surrounded by an outer covering 30 in which a.suitable heating medium is allowed to circulate for heating the receiver 21.

The electrodes arranged in the inner cover consist of a central rotary shaft 25, provided with a number of suitably pointed transverse arms 26 preferably of wire and a condenser 27 similarly to the rotary electrode of the first embodiment, and of a rotary fork-shaped member 31, the stem of which forms a supporting shaft which pro- 1 hole 35.

jects through the bottom of the apparatus below and which is in driving connection by means of a Worm-gear with a driving shaft 32.

The branches of the fork extend along the inside of the inner cover and are in contact therewith or nearly so. In the bottom part of the apparatus there is arranged a screw conveyor 33 the outer end of which extends into a discharging cover or pipe 34, which is provided with a discharging The materials to be treated enter through the pipe 20 into the upper portion of the space between the wall of the receiver 21 and the inner cover, then pass down this space during which passage they are heated and,-if desired, mixed with other gases, with which. they may chemically react. They then enter into the space enclosed by the inner cover 23 at bottom part thereof and flow upwards through this space to the outlet 28.

During the last-mentioned that they fall down to the bottom of the apparatus from which they are continuously-removed by means of the screw con= veyor 35. i p

The fork may, if desired, be replaced by any other arrangement whereby the inside of the cover '23 may be cleared of the deposits.

The process in the apparatus should take place at vacuum. or low pressure and the pressure or vacuum is selected with regard to the products desired, difierent products being obtained according as pressure is greater or less or vacuum is used. It may .in certain cases be necessary that the materials are treated successively in two ormore apparatus arranged in series.

It has been found that it isnot essential that the compounds to be treated in the aforesaid manner should be gaseous or vaporous, but solid or li uid bodies or mixtures of solid and liquid bodies may be treated, particularly certain metals, for instance aluminum, mixed with hydrocarbons. The solid or liquid body should be in a finely divided state that is pulverized.

The proportions of the materials mixed in the receiver 21, and also the voltage between the electrodes and the speed at which such electrodes are driven are adjusted in accordance with the products which it is desired to obtain. In practice, the speed at'which the electrodes have been driven has varied between 3000-7000 revolutions per minute. though good results could probably be obtained by spee'ds outside this range.

Owing to the relative high speed between the two electrodes androwing to the special construction of the electrodes the interior of the chamber during the rotation of the .electrodes will be in a state of electrical tension, the pressure of course at different parts varying as the electrodes rotate, such pressures varying substantially in accordance with a sine curve, and it is believed,

' tricity in a receiver in which a masses and acetic acid. Also. if desired,the hydro-- carbons may be mixed in the mixing chamber with hydrogen or oxygen so that a redueing or oxydizing effect may be obtained. The proportions of the gases and the kind,

will of course de end upon the resultant product which it is desired to obtain.

Also metals in a ulverized state maybe treated with or wit out hydrocarbons.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is lhThe process of treating materials in a gaseous orfinely divided state which consists in submitting such materials to the action of hi h tension electricity in a receiver in w ich a pair of electrodes are moigd relatively to each other at a high spe 2. The process of treating materials in a gaseous or finely divided state which consists in mixing a plurality of the materials and in submittin the mixed materials to the action of hi receiver in whic a pair of electrodes are movgd relatively to each other at a high spee 3. The process of treating materials in a gaseous or finelydivided state which consists in mixing two or more of the materials under heat, and in submitting the mixed materials to the action of high tension elecair of electrodes are moved relatively to 'eac other at a high speed.

4. T e process of treating materials in a gaseous or finely divided state which consists in mixing the materials with a reducing agent and in submitting the mixed materials to the action of high tension electricity in a receiver in which a pair of electrodes are moved relatively to each other at a l iilgh speed.

5. e process of treating materials in a gaseous or finely divided state which con-- sists in mixing a plurality of the materials in proportions whlch va according to the roducts which it is desired to obtain and in submitting such mixed materials to the action of high tension electricity in a receiver in w 'ch. a pair of electr des are tension electricity in a movgd relatively to each other at a high spee 6. The process of treating materials in a gaseous or finely divided state which consists in submittin such materials at low pressure to the action of high tension electricity in a receiver in which a-pair of electrodes are moved relatively to each other at a hi h speed.

7. e process of treating hydrocarbon gas which consists in submitting the gas to the action of high tension electricity in a receiver in which a pair of electrodes are moved relatively to each other at a high speed.

8. a gaseous or finely divided state'whichconsists in submitting such materials to the action of a high tension electricity in a receiver in which a pair of electrodes are moved relatively to each other at a high speed and in varying the relative speeds of such electrode so as to control the resulting products.

9. The process of treating materials in a gaseous or finely divided state which consists in submitting such materials to the action of high tension electricityin' a reich a pair of electrodes are ceiver in w moved relatively to each other at a high speed, and in varyin the relative s eed of such electrodes and t e tension of t e electricity so as to control the resulting products.

10. A process for treating materials in a gaseous or finely divided state which consists in heating said materials and in submitting the materials in their heated state to the action of high tension electricity.

11.. A process for treating materials in a gaseous or finely divided state which consists in heating said materials and in submitting the materials in their heated state to the action of high tension electricity by passing electrica ly charged particles through the material.

12. A process for producing hydrocarbon gas consisting in assing a material containing carbon or ydrocarbons successively throu h all hotter reions of a furnace, partiifily heated by e ectrical heating devices arranged adjIacent the extreme region of the furnace. ta ring off the hydrocarbon gases roduced in the furnaces at a plurality of di erent regions of the furnace and bringing the vapors taken out from the diflerent regions together.

13. A process for producingandtreating hydrocar on gas which consists in passing a material containing carbon or hydrocarbon successively through allhotter regions of a furnace, partially heated by electrical heating devices arranged adjacent the extreme regipn of the furnace, taking off the hydrocar n gases produced in the furnaces at a plurality of different regions of the and the other furnace and bringing the vapors taken out from the difl'erent regions together and submitting such gases to the action of high tension electricity.

14. A-process for producing and treating hydrocarbon gas which consists in passing a material containing carbon or hydrocarbons successively through all hotter regions of a furnace, partially heated by electrical heating devices arranged adjacent the extreme region of the furnace, taking off the hydrocarbon gases produced in the furnaces at a plurality of different regions of the furnace and bringing the vapors taken out from the different regions together and submitting such gases to the action of high tension electricity, in a receiver in which a pair of electrodes are nioved relatively to each other at a high speed.

15. A process of treating hydrocarbon gas which consists in submitting the gas to the action of high tension electricity.

16. A process of treating hydrocarbon gas which consists in mixing such gas with other materials in a gaseous or finely divided state and in submitting such mixed materials to. the action of high tension electricity.

17. A process of treating hydrocarbon gas which consists in mixing such gas with a metal in a finely divided state and in submittin such mixed materials to the action of hig tension electricity.

18. Apparatus for carrying out the process as claimed in claim 1 comprising a receiver, electrodes within such receiver connected to a source of high tension electricity and means for moving said electrodes relatively to each other at a high speed so as to produce electric Waves of predetermined shape within said receiver.

19. Apparatus for carrying out the process as claimed in claim 1 comprising a receiver, a pair of electrodes within such receiver connected to a source of high tension electricity, one of such electrodes having a plurality of thin arms extending therefrom of such electrodes comprising a pair of upstanding arms one on each side of said first mentioned electrode, and means for moving said electrodes relatively to each other.

20. Apparatus as .claimed in claim 19 characterized in that one of said electrodes is connected to a condenser.

21. An apparatus as claimed in claim 19 characterized in that the means for moving said electrodes relatively to each other'comprises means for effecting the. rotation of such electrodes.

22. An apparatus as claimed in claim 19 characterized in that the receiver is made of insulating material.

23. An apparatus as claimed in claim 22 characterized in that a second receiver surrounds the first receiver and is spaced therefrom thus forming an annular chamber about such first receiver and that an inlet and an outlet is provided to and from such annular chamber in such manner that the material first passes through such annular chamber and is subsequently directed into the inner receiver.

24. Apparatus as claimed in claim 19 characterized in that the two arms of the second electrode are adapted to rotate in adjacent proximity to the inner surface of the receiver thus effecting the cleaning of the said inner surface. I

25. Apparatus as claimed in claim 24 characterized by the provision of a conveyer arranged to continuously discharge solid and viscous matteraccumulating at the bottom of the apparatus.

26. Apparatus for carrying out the process as claimed in claim 14 comprising in combination a vertical furnace having an open bottom, a feeding the top of the furnace, an electric heating device arranged below the furnace, a receiver for the hydrocarbon gases produced in said furnace,means for passing such gases into said receiver, electrodes within such receiver connected to a source of high.

tension electricity and means for moving said electrodes relatively to each other at a high speed so as to produce electric rwaves of predetermined shape Within such receiver. G

27. Apparatus as claimed in claim 26 characterized by the provision of a masonry structure surrounding the furnace and provided with channels adapted to be connected with a source of heated fluid and so arranged as to cause the heatedv fluid to How in a direction opposite to that of the material fed to the furnace.

28. Apparatus as claimed in claim 26 characterized by the provision of a plurality of-shelves arranged in stepped relation in the furnace and rotatable brushes associated with such shelves and operable to brush the material from one shelf to the next adjacent lower shelf.

In testimon whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses NILS GERHARD LINDERBORG. Witnesses STEWART VVHITEMAN, ALBERT E. PARKER.

.device arranged at 

